Greens leader
Christine Milne
urged the government to step in to prevent sacred sites being damaged while the Environment Minister
Tony Burke
decides whether to grant an emergency heritage listing.

Leader of the government in the Senate,
Stephen Conroy
, said Mr Burke would make a decision when the assessment process was complete.

"The Western Australian state election deadlines are irrelevant to his decision," Senator Conroy said.

He said national environment law does not set out time lines for decision-making.

Sentor Conroy told the chamber Mr Burke was informed late last year the West Australian government had admitted it did not comply with Native Title laws during the process of compulsory acquisition of land at James Price Point and will need to start again.

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The Senate was told the Wilderness Society was launching legal action against the WA Environment Protection Authority and state environment minister in the Supreme Court over the gas hub and alleged conflicts of interest.